Regarding The Third Rail, The New Bar From The Range Team Coming To Dogpatch

We first heard about The Third Rail (628 20th Street), the new bar from the team behind popular Mission restaurant Range, back in November. Now the Chron brings word that construction is just now beginning, with an opening slated for fall.

It's an exciting project, though, from a talented barman, Jeff Lyon, and likely to be one of the more buzzy openings of the latter half of the year. Lyon explains that the story behind the name started with the name of one of his signature bourbon drinks at Range  bourbon, Lillet, honey, lemon, orange bitters, to be exact. Lyon had been studying old cocktail recipes and their vaguely threatening names, like the Corpse Reviver and Blood and Sand, and he chose the name based on subway warning signs. It ended up being a perfect fit when he and Range owner Phil West found a location for a new bar near Third Street, and the T line.

The cocktail list should be a good one, and will be divided into four categories: Seasonal, boozy, citrus, and aperitif. And those who have visited Range in recent years know that Lyon's style includes a lot of nods to season fruit, with herb syrups and inventive combinations of flavors.

The design for the space will be by the folks at Paxton Gate. And for those who still think Dogpatch is way too far, and way too desolate, it's worth noting that West and his wife Cameron have a nose for finding up-and-coming spots. When Range opened almost a decade ago, the stretch of Valencia between 18th and 19th was equally desolate, and considered too far from foot traffic to be desirable. Those were the days.